Mechanical cloth-laying apparatus



March 4, 1952 A, BEBER 2,587,811

MECHANICAL CLOTHLAYING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jaw/5m EM "wf" By i . Attomey wv n. Q. .Row 9N ONM.. .il n u\`\l/ a al@ O l F2# N. Pvm.\ .mui o A 1 In. n. 0h Q S Nv w. n. @n 5% l Q .----.@rr:EMAmm @NUMA ulnn.. "Nww Nb O\ u R. Q.nww. www unhhov m .Ed2k n.

March 4, 1952 A. BIEBER MECHANICAL cLoTH-LAYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1947 Attorney Wn. (2f

March 4, 1952 A. BIEBER MECHANICAL CLOTH-LAY1NG APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed` Aug. 4, 1947 ZE z 'Inventor By Mm VV-J.

Attorney March 4, 1952 A. Blf-:BER

MECHANICAL CLOTH-LAYING APPARATUS 4 SheetsfShees 4:

Filed Aug. 4, 1947 r 7 Inventar Bg www Qvzz Attorney Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE MECHANICAL CLOTH-LAYING APPARATUS Abraham Bieber, Liverpool, England, assignor to Express Patent Company (Liverpool) Limited, a Liverpool, England, a company of Great Britain Applieation August 4, 1947, serial No. 166,008

In Great Britain September 1, 1939 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires September 1, 1959` aclaims. (c1. 27o-31) This invention relates to cloth laying machines as used in the cutting rooms of .clothing factories where it is desired to cut a plurality of superimposed layers vof cloth simultaneously.

My invention aims to produce a machine or apparatus for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction and so cheap to manufacture, easily manipulated, certain in action not liable to derangernent under working conditions, and which obvates necessity for the lifting of heavy weights of cloth by the operator as has heretofore been essential in machines in connection with which-the-eloth supply is placed by and upon a reciprocable .carriage situated above the table and adapted for hand actuation.

It is a feature of my invention that although the cloth is .layered by the aid of a guide carrier having to-and-fro movement over a table, such cloth (in roll or other form as received from the cloth manufacturers) may be supported upon a room floor or a low platform or table or in a roller-cradle resting upon .the floor..

A cloth laying machine according to my invention includes a table; -a carrier reciprocably mounted on rails provided at each side of the table, opposed pairs of cloth .holders mounted on and near each side of the table .and at a preset distance between same, each holder comprising a pivotal lifting bar and a cloth holder proper pivotally mounted to the free end of said lifting bar.; meansabetween said carrier andopposed pairs of lifting. bars and cloth holders for actuating the same -so that said cloth holders .proper are released and engaged from and with the cloth in the reciprocable .travel of said carrier over the ytable;` locking means arranged to hold said cloth holdersv proper at right angles to their respective lifting bars when in cloth-engaging position; the arrangement being such that s-aid cloth holders when in their cloth-disengaging position comprise forward ,extensions of said lifting bars and do notmove outwardly beyond the sides of the table top.

Other features appertaining to this invention are hereinafter ,described and illustrated with reference to the' accompanying drawings these features fbeing within the scope of the appended claims.

I will further describe my invention with the aid of the accompanying .sheets of explanatory drawings which illustrate, by way of example only, one mode ofcarrying the invention into effect.

In said drawings:

Figs. `1A and 1B are together a side elevation 55 in part'section, and

Figs. 2A and 2B are together a plan View of a,

cloth laying machine constructed in accordance with my invention, the sectional vpart of Figs. 1A, 1B being taken on the line A-,.A, Figs. 2A, 2B.

Fig. '3 is an enlarged detail of the cloth holders shown in Fig. 2A.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section taken line BB, Fig. 1A.

In the several views like characters of reference denote like or equivalent part-s wherever they occur.

Referring to the drawings, l designates a table top, say of wood or metal, which, in the operation of the machine, is of constant height, there being no necessity for its vertic-al adjustment during use. On said table top I is reciprocably disposed a cloth-layering guide carrier, gener,.- ally designated 2, which includes side members or cheeks 3, 4 spacedly and rigidly connected by suitable distance rods such as those shown at 5, 6,1 and 8, each side member 3, 4 having a pair of anged wheels or rollers 9, 9a revoluble on ball bearings and adapted to run on rails IU longitudinally disposed one at each side of the table top I, but so that the outer edge of each rail base portion projects-as shown inFig. 4-somewhat from an angled frame member I I of the table whereto legs I2 are secured. Said rails I0 are also secured to said angled frame members II.

Between upper extensions 3a, 4a, of said side members 3, 4 a roller I3 is journalled, and below same are a pair of spaced rollers I 4, I5 journalled between brackets I6 secured to the underside of a transverse angle iron I1 which has its opposite ends respectively secured to vertically disposed members I8 of T-section slid-ably mounted in guides. I9 formed one at the inner face of each of the carrier side members 3, 4. Edge portions of each of the vertically slidable members I8 are formed with ratchet teeth I8a which are respecf. tively engaged by pawls 2D mounted on, so as to turn with, a transverse rod 2I rotatably carried by the carrier side members 3, 4. Said pawls 2U normally tend to engage the ratchet teeth I Ba under the influence of coiled springs 22.

Said double roller carrying assembly I4 to I8 ,V

inclusive, is `adapted to be raised and lowered from a side of the machine by the aid of a hand lever 23 which turns a transverse rod 24 carrying crank arms' 25 actuating links 26 pivotally` anchored at their lower ends to a side of angle iron Il, so that the two spaced rollers I4, I5 mayjbe gradually raised as the thickness `of the cloth layers increases during the operation of the ma-` chine as hereinafter described.

Alternatively, it may be arranged that said spaced roller assembly I4 to I8 shall be self-raising and automatically held as the cloth layering process proceeds.

To lower said vertical ratchet members I8 and so their associated rollers, I4, I towards the table top I again, said pawls 20 may be simultaneously disengaged from the ratchet teeth I8a by means of a handle 21 secured to the pawlcarrying rod 2|, the lowering movement of the lower roller assembly I4 to I8, under gravity, being controlled by the handlever 23 actuating the crank arms 25 and links 26.

Secured to the inner faces of each side member 3, 4 are brackets (not shown) on the underside of which are secured rubber buffers 28, the purpose of which being later described.

Situated on and near the sides of the table top I and at desired longitudinal and pre-set distance between same, i. e. according to the length of the cloth layers to be made, are pairs (two pairs in all) of similar appliances one of which I will now describe, reference being particularly directed to Fig. 3.

Revolubly mounted or shaft 29- rotatably journalledin bearings 3l)v secured to the table and transversely spanning Y the table top I at a suitable height above same and being counter-balanced by a tension spring such as 3I (or weight) is a longitudinally arranged barr32 (hereinafter for convenience of reference designated lifting bar) whereon, near its free (front) end, a second blade-like bar 33 (hereinafter for convenience of reference, designated cloth holder) is pivoted as shown Aat 34, said cloth holder 33 beingnormally locked in a position at right angles to said lifting bar 32. Nearer to the rear end of said lifting bar 32 there is pivoted thereon a cross bar or lever 35 on one side of its fulcrum 36 is pivotally attached at 31a an end of a connecting `rod 31 the other end whereof is connected at 31h with said cloth holder 33. If desired, said connecting rod 31 may be duplicated, i. e. a second rod being anchored between lever 35 and cloth holder 33,. the points of pivoting of said second b ar being at the other side of the pivots 34, 36.

Pivoted on said cross lever 35 is a locking lever 38 one end whereof is formedinto a catch-like recess tending under influence of compression spring 38h to engage a cooperating catch block 39 adjustably mounted on the lifting bar 32, and

in its normal position does so engage. SaidY blockY 39 is adjustable ina housingAV 40 by means of a screw 4I.

A tension spring 42 anchored between the inner end of cross lever 35 and rod 29 tends to maintain. said cloth holder 33 (against opposed adjustable stops 43 carried at the free end of the lifting bar 32) in said requisite position at right angles to the lifting bar, and the outer end 38a of locking lever 38, as also a coinicident outer portion of cross lever 35, projects into the pathv of reciprocal travel of an oscillatable arm 44 pivotally suspended from said guide carrierJ 2 for the purpose later described. Said lifting bar 32 is also provided with a rigid upwardly inclined tongue 32a which turns as one with the lifting bar- 32 and-rod 29 together with a hub member.

by its rear end on a rodV In initial position for cloth layering, each lifting bar 32 lies with its front end, which has a rubber foot piece 45, resting on the table I, and the cloth holder 33 (now locked) is lying horizontally on and at right angles to said lifting bar near its free front end. The cross lever 35 onsaid lifting bar 32 is also at right angles theretowith its locking lever 38 engaging under spring pressure, the cooperating catch block 39 on the lifting bar. Thus said cloth holder 33, for the time being, is immovable.

Thevoperator of the machine moves the carrier Z-Aby means of a side handle 2a and in a stroke of the guide carrier over the table say in the direction of the arrow E, Figs. 1A and 1B, said oscillatable arm 44 which has pivotal freedom of :movement in oneits forward-directionfonly, it being in abutment against an adjustable stop .45, engages with and moves the part 38a of said "spring-nifluenced locking lever 38 lying in its path and in so doing unlocks this lever from catch block 39. Said oscillatable arm 44 also engages with the cross lever 35 and turns same about its pivot 36 so that in the further travel of the carrier 2 the (now-freed) cloth holder 33 is moved to a longitudinal position (i. e. in alignment with the lifting bar 32 as shown in dotted lines Fig; 2A) through the consequential actuation of the connecting rod 31, and against the resistance of spring 42. In this movement of the cloth holder' 33 during a layering operation the inner portion thereof is Vmoved clear of the cloth a: on the table, and on the continued stroke of the guide carrier 2 the distance rod 5 of the latter engages said tongue projection 32a of the lifting bar 32, thus lthe forward end of the same with cloth holder 33 is raised inthe turning of rod 29, such raisingv l innerrportion of the cloth holder 33 is above the then top layer of cloth, this movement being effected by said connecting rod 31 and tension spring 42v associated with the cross lever 35. Thus, cross lever now'lies again across the lifting bar 32 in locked condition and the cloth holder 33 rests in locked condition at right angles to the lifting bar 32 on the .uppermost layer of cloth,

to form a stop and enable another cloth layer to be formed on the reverse stroke of the guide car- I, rier 2.

The stroke of the carrier 2 is restricted through the rubber buffers 28 abuttingagainst the upper faces of the pair of lifting bars 32.` Thus, the

buffers 28 also restrict the raising movement of bars 32.

The guide carrier 2 is now drawn away by its handle 2a for its next stroke on the table in which motion the swinging rod 44 retires, passing over the cross and locking levers 35, 38 and the operation is repeated with the other pair of [cloth holders 33 to form another and so on.

In order to minimise disturbance of the cloth :c as and when the pairs of holders 33 are being released from the cloth, the top and underside of each holder 33 are formed with spaced rib-like projections 33a. curved concentrically with the aXis34 about which holder 33 pivots. Prior to the layering process, the longitudinal setting of one pair (i. e. thev left hand pair as shown in the drawings) of folding devices having been effected to suit the length of clothlayers required, the yfree end loi' the `eloilhii'c'be layered isled over a .guideroller `41 journalled in :the bear-V ings 30 at the rear end of the tabla/over the upper roller I3 ofthe reciprocable Yguidecarrier 2, 'between and under the :spaced'lower `rollers I4, I5 of .the carrier" and `conveniently :secured to and drop onto the `face for the then uppermost,`

cloth layer to provide a vstop `tu enable the formation of the next succeeding fold. Inno circumstances, however, do rthe cloth holders `33 move laterally or outwardly beyond `the sidesA of the table top I.

The freeends .of the cloth holders 33 of `a pair.v

may be situated close together when in operative position, i. e. at 'right angles `to ltheir lifting bars y 32 Iso that cloth of varying widths Ymay be Afolded and this without necessity .for any lateral ,adjust--v ment of the bars 32 on the rod 23.

For the laying up of light materials. 'Ifrnaylpo'sition on the table `a device shown ldiagrammatically s at G. Fig. 2A, having upper and lower gripping jaws adapted vto be operated `by the carrier 2 in order to Vhold the .folded cloth, whilst the holders 33 are straighteningfout tocther cloth-disengaged position.

.Any suitable guide device or devices, such Aasthe adjustable collars 5.0, :may be Iassociated withfl? the rollers I3, 41 to` ensure-the prevention of@ lateral displacement of the cloth in the folding:l operations, as also slidable gui-des 5l (to guiderV the cloth over :roller I5) mounted on a bar 5-2 secured to transverse angle iron l1, whilst other adjustable componentsimay be tted as desired@A to provide for the layering of cloths of varying` Further, a spring-pressed brake device]A 53 actuated by wing `nut 54 may be provided to.. restrict the rotatable freedom of movement ;of` roller I3 with a view to maintaining the cloth taut` widths.

if so desired, :and in "this connection the roller I4 may be similarly restricted `or locked against rotary movement. l j 4,

To adjustably connect the movable, i. estheleft hand pair of layer devices 32, 33 to the table the rotatable rod 29 on which the ends of the pair of lifting bars 32 are secured is mounted fon brackets secured to one of apair of transverse bars55'whichare connected by metal plate mem-1 ,1

bers 56 having depending portions 56a which slid-xl ably engage with the vertical component of the rails I0. l transversely disposed channel guide 51 and slide` ably located therein is a bar 59 having at one end a shoe adapted to bear on one side dif` the tablel The other end of bar 53 is provided` with a screw threaded rod end 59a, and carries.' on an extension 58a, a shoe 58 adapted to bear on the other side of the table. A nut lever 6I is provided on rod end 59a, and on turning saidl nut lever in the appropriate direction both shoes` 58, 60 whichl lie below said projection part of the base of the rails I0 are tightened up or slackenedA as desired. p

In order to lock the cvarrier 2 to the adjustable clamp assembly just described a pair of hooki members B2 connected together by a rod 63 arev pivotally connected with a rod 23, the hooked members 62 being adapted to engage with the dis- Provided between said bars 55 is a.;

tance lred 5 of the carrier 'when rthe latter ais fat this end of the table. 'thus the carriermay -be `readily-hacked to ythis `assembly when adjustment of the left hand pair of `cloth holders is 'being effected by movement-of the carrier 2.

In order to temporarily raise said pairs `of .cloth holders 32, 33 clear ofthe table *top when it may, be required to fuse, the surface of the table, the left hand pair vof lcloth holders 32, 33 are Araised and held by a hook 64 which engages with apin `65 connected to one of the tongues 32a of a lifting bar. The right hand pair of cloth holders 32, .33'

may be 4similarly. raised and temporarily .held `in such out of use position bya transverse rod 4(i6 being placed across U-.shaped bearings formed at the upper ends of brackets 30 and under which the inclined arms 32a of the respective cloth holders rabut; Said bar 66 which `also serves as a guide Afor tthecloth passing over roller 41 is removed when it is required tolower the cloth holders on to the table. y

The `machine lis provided with a low platform or vtable 61 whereon ,cloth laid in nat layers .may be fed over vroller A41 to the machine as shown by the dotted line r1 but for dealing `.with cloth in flat roll form with a cardboard or other Astilfening insert through Ythe middle, as shown .at :r2 Fig. A.1, I provide --a pair of uprights `t8 which are adjust able upon a horizontal bar 59 Isecured to the low platform or table 61. The upper ends of said uprights 68 constitute bearings 4'for shafts or spindles 'l0 each of `which carries a shaped -holder frame II on which an xend Ioi? a ycloth roll may be l mounted, so that when tension is imposed on the cloth in the layering operation theroll 3:2 ci cloth will readily lrevolve to permit yof the loose or free end of the Ycloth being pulled away. A hand wheel or handle "l2 secured to one of said 'shafts y1l) permits the vcloth roll :r2 tobejrewound ii' desired.

y For the handlingof cloth rolled Yupon `tubes 'of cardboardor the like; said shafts or spindles 1D mounted in the 'bea-rings `o1 said uprights Gamay have, at the ends remote from the holding means I 1l already described, tapering or conical members 13 Aadapted to project vinto .the ends of and Said conical carrier member 13j carry a tube. may bebrought into confronting Aposition lfor use by' vreversing the uprights B8 which may vbe secured in adjusted 4position bymeans of a wing screw 14 which passes through `an aperturedbase 15 of the upright .B8 `and which base 1.5 is slidablymounted v.by rollers A'I6 on said horizontal bar B9. A lay or guide edge piece 11 (Fig. 1B) `for the cloth when placedlat upon said `platform `(il.

may be positioned when adjusted by means of a wing-screw passed through a depending extension of an angle metal strip (not shown) to which the guide or lay board 11 is secured, and bearing on the horizontal bar 69.

For the handling of light material such. for example, as silks rolled on a rigid rod or tube, I may provide a pair of brackets 18 each secured to a side of the cloth-roll-supporting uprights 68, each bracket 18 carrying a pair of spaced roller wheels 19 whereon ends of said rigid rod or tube which project from the material wound thereon rest so as to readily roll when the maf,

` What I claim as lmy invention and desire to' secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cloth laying machine comprising in combination a table provided with rails at its opposed sides, a carrier reciprocably mounted on said rails, rotatable rods journalled `in bearings arranged at sidefof said table, contacting" tongues l provided on each of said rotatable rods, two opposed .pairs of cloth holders and veach pair being mounted on a rotatable rod in a pre-set distance apart, each cloth holder comprising a lifting' barl secured at one end to its respective rod, a'cloth holder proper pivotally mounted on the opposite or free end of said lifting bar, stops on said lifting bar .for limiting. movement of said cloth holder proper, a lever pivoted tosaid lifting bar, a con' necting' rodpivotally attached .to the inner end of said lever and to said cloth holder proper, a

second 'locking lever pivoted on the'outer end of said first-mentioned lever andfhaving a catchlike recess formed in one'endfa compressionj spring between said first-mentioned lever and said-locking lever for causing engagement of the catch-like -recess of said locking lever with a co-operating catch block mounted on the lifting bar,` a tension spring connecting the inner end of said first lever with the rotatable rod, pendant armsprovided on said reciprocable carrier for contacting and releasing said locking lever and moving said cloth holders properrfrom cloth engaging position at right angles to said lifting bar to a cloth disengaging position wherein they-v form extensions of said lifting bars, and means,

on said reciprocable carrier for-contacting `said tongues provided on said rotatable rods for raising said lifting bars after the cloth holders have moved to cloth disengaging position.

2. A cloth laying machine as .claimed in claimv 1, wherein said carrier comprises a pair of connected side members having upper extensions,

flanged' wheels revolubly secured to said side., members adapted to run on said rails ofthe table, a roller journalled between said side members upper extensions, brackets secured on the underside of a transverse bar the ends of which latter are ailixed to vertical members mounted in guides formed one vat the inner face of each' carrier side member, a pair of spacedrollers journalled between said brackets, ratchet teeth on Saidvertical members, a rod rotatably sup-v ported by the carrier's side members, pawls secured adjacent the ends of said rod and engageable with said ratchet teeth, springs between said pawls and the -adjacent carriers side members for engaging the pawls with the ratchet teeth of said vertical members', a hand lever for raising said spaced rollers and secured to a transverse rod journalled between the carrier's side memcarrier's sides, stops on said carrier's sides for limiting said pendant arms to movement in one, I

outward, direction only, and transverse rods secured between said carrier's sides, for contacting the tongues of said cloth holders and actuating same.

3;' A' cloth laying machine as claimed in claim 1, 'wherein the cloth holders'atv one end of the table are kadjustably located' on said table by clamping means which comprise a pair of transverse bars connected by plate members having depending portions in engagement with the rails at thefside's of the table, a channel member secured between said pair of transverse bars for locating adslidable bar having a shoe on one end for engagement with aside of the table and av screw threaded portion at the other end, a second shoe for engaging the other side of the table and having an aperture for receiving the Yscrewthreaded portion of said bar, and a nut lever for engagement with the screw thread of said bar, which nut lever when tightened engages the shoes with thertable sides, and the bearings of the rotatablerod carrying said cloth holders beingv secured to one of said transverse bars.

ABRAHAM 'BIEBER REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le `of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 923,577 Ratner June 1, 1909 923,578 Ratner June 1, 1909 950,153 Gaunt Feb. 22, 191()y 1,025,719 Priester 'May '7, 1912 1,036,011 Schneider Aug. 20, 1912 2,175,823 Breth Oct. 10, 1939 Smith' Nov. 14, 1939' 

